Device for inserting wedges in coil slots



Jan. 25, 1966 H. w. MOORE DEVICE FOR INSERTING WEDGES IN con SLOTS '7Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 8. 1961 INVENTOR. HAP/FY M4 MOO/PEBy 9 1 /-//5 ATTORNEKS H. W. MOORE Jan. 25, 1966 DEVICE FOR INSERTINGWEDGES IN COIL SLOTS '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 8, 1961IIIIIIIIIIIIII' hunmmm,

INVENTOR. HARRY W MOORE H/S ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 H. w. MOORE3,230,611

DEVICE FOR INSEHTING WEDGES IN COIL SLOTS Original Filed Sept. 8. 1961'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. HA RR Y M. M 00/?5 Jan. 25, 1966 H. w.MOORE 3,230,611

DEVICE FOR INSERTING WEDGES IN COIL SLOTS Original Filed Sept. 8, 1961Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 1 HAPPY W MOORE ///5 ATTOP/VfV-S Jan. 25, 1966H. w. MOORE 3,230,611

DEVICE FOR INSERTING WEDGES IN COIL SLOTS Original Filed Sept. 8, 1961'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HARRY W MOORE Jan. 25, 1966 H. w. MOORE3,230,611

DEVICE FOR INSERTING WEDGES IN COIL SLOTS Qriginal Filed Sept. 8, 1961'7 Sheets-Sheet 6 2w INVENTOR.

l-l/IEEV m M0025 HIS HTTOENYS Jan. 25, 1966 H. w. MOORE 3,230,611

DEVICE FOR INSERTING WEDGES IN COIL SLOTS Original Filed Sept. 8. 1961'7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. H/JEEV W M00 5 HIS flTTUE/WEVS UnitedStates Patent 3,230,611 DEVICE FOR INSERTING WEDGES IN COIL SLOTS HarryW. Moore, 5051 Kittridge Road, Dayton, Ohio Original application Sept.8, I961, Ser. No. 136,947. Divided and this application Jan. 4, 1965,Ser. No.

1 Claim. (Cl. 29-1555) This is a division of application Serial No.136,947, filed Sept. 8, 1961.

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for inserting wedgesinto coil slots of a field member and more particularly to a method andan apparatus for adjusting the position of coils in the coil slots ofthe field member to provide clearance for movement of insulating stripsinto the coil slots. However, the invention is not necessarily solimited.

In constructing rotor and stator field members for electric motors,generators and the like, it is conventional practice to insert coils ofwires into slots in the field member. For satisfactory operation of thefield member, it is important that the coils supplied be insulated fromthe field member. The present invention is concerned with methods forinserting insulating strips into the slots of the field member aftercoils have been located in the slots.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedapparatus for inserting insulating strips of wedges into the slots offield members after coils have been located in such slots.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod for inserting insulating strips into the slots of a field memberpreviously provided with coils.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedapparatus for inserting insulating wedges into a field member, whichapparatus includes means to adjust the position of coils alreadydeposited in the field member so as to provide clearance for movement ofinsulating wedges into slots of the field member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod for inserting insulating wedges into a field member, which methodincludes steps for adjusting the position of coils deposited in thefield member so as to provide clearance for movement of wedges intoslots of the field member.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, thecombination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode ofoperation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the presentinvention with parts broken away and other parts shown in phantomdetail.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the device disclosed in FIGURE 1with portions shown in section.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus ofFIGURE 1 with portions broken away to reveal the interior constructionof the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a field member amenable toprocessing with the present method and apparatus illustrating a singlecoil deposited in slots of the field member.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view with portions broken 3,230,511 PatentedJan. 25, 1966 away illustrating the main driving mechanism employed inthe present apparatus.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating mechanismresponsive to operation of the present apparatus for controlling theoperation of a pneumatic actuator employed in the present apparatus.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 10-10 ofFIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is an end elevation of a modified apparatus.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary side elevation view taken in the direction ofthe arrows 12l2 of FIGURE 11.

The present apparatus can be subdivided into two operating mechanismswhich are driven from a common drive mechanism and therefore operate insynchronism, but which are otherwise generally independent. The first ofthese mechanisms comprises means to prepare insulating wedges forinsertion into a field member and means to project the wedges into thefield member. Hereafter, this mechanism will be designated generally asa wedge supply means. The other mechanism comprises means to support afield member for receipt of wedges and means to adjust the position ofcoils in the field member to provide a clearance for movement of wedgesinto the field member.

Wedge supply means Referring to FIGURE 1, electrically insulating stripmaterial 32 is supplied to the apparatus of the present invention from asupply roll 30. The strip material is advanced into the apparatus bymeans of driving rollers 34 and 36 which cooperate to form the initiallyfiat strip material into a desired cross sectional shape. As oneexample, the rollers 34 and 36 may form the strip material into achannel shape. A driving mechanism, not shown, advances the drivingrollers 34 and 36 through intermittent rotational increments such thatthe formed strip material 32 is advanced into the apparatus in equalcyclic increments. While only one supply roll 30 and associated drivingrollers 34 and 36 are visible in FIG- URE 1, two supply rolls andassociated drive rollers located side by side are employed in thepresent apparatus to supply two strips simultaneously.

The formed insulating strips 32 pass from the driving rollers 3-4 and 36into a supply magazine illustrated generally at 38. This magazine issupported by a stationary upright frame member 40. The interiorconstruction of this supply magazine is best illustrated in FIGURE 3.There, it will be observed that the supply magazine is assembled upon acylindrical core 42 having an enlarged section 44 thereon. Locatedimmediately to the left of this enlarged section, as viewed in FIGURE 3,is a cylindrical sleeve 46 journalled for rotation on the core 42. Asbest seen in FIGURE 5, this sleeve 46 has a piurality of axiallyextending slots 47 therein, these slots being adapted to receiveinsulating strip material from the driving rolls 34 and 36. Press-fittedon the sleeve 46 is a cover member 48. The interior wall of the covermember cooperates with the slots in the sleeve 46 to form generallyrectangular passages into which the insulating strip material isinserted. The cover member 48 is mounted for rotation in a casing 50and, with the sleeve 46, forms a rotating magazine. This casing 50 andthe core 42 are interconnected by means of an end plate 52 bolted to thecore 42 with a bolt 54 and to the casing 50 with a bolt 55. While onlyone each of the bolts 54 and 55 is visible, it will be understood thatseveral such bolts may be employed. The casing 50 is fixedly supportedin the frame member 40, and accordingly, neither the casing 50 nor theinner core 42 is free to rotate.

Fixedly mounted upon the inner core 42 is a bracket member 56 (best seenin FIGURES 1 and 3). Located internally of this bracket are passages 53which guide the insulating strips from the driving rollers 34 and 36into the magazine slots 47.

A knife 60 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 56. The construction andoperation of this knife is best observed in FIGURE 2 where the knifeappears in broken line detail. There, it will be observed that the knife6%) is pivoted at one end on a pivot 62 associated with the bracket 56.A pivot pin 64 at the opposite end connects the knife to a generallyvertical actuator rod 66 provided with a coupler 68 at the lower endthereof. Referring to FIGURE 1, it can be observed that the coupler 68connects pivotally to one end of a link 70. The opposite end of thislink is pivotally joined at 72 to a fixed support 74. A cam followerwheel 76 is mounted on the link 7 intermediate its ends and follows theperiphery of a cam '78 fixedly attached to a cam shaft 79 which will bedescribed in greater detail subsequently. For the present, it sufiicesto note that the cam shaft 79 rotates one complete revolution for eachcycle of operation of the present apparatus and, during each cycle ofoperation, the driving rolls 34 and 36 function to advance one incrementof strip material from each supply roll into the supply magazine. Theorientation of the cam 78 on the cam shaft 79 is such that, for eachcycle of operation, the knife is actuated downwardly as viewed in FIGURE2 one time, the knife being timed to move downwardly after the driverollers 34 and 36 have advanced strip material into the magazine slots47. With continued rotation of the cam 78, after the knife is actuateddownwardly, a return spring 81, illustrated in FIGURE 3, returns theknife to its upper position.

In its downward movement, the knife 60 passes a fiat surface 61 formedon the bracket 56 and cooperates with this fiat surface to cut the stripmaterial advanced into the supply magazine, two strips of insulatingmaterial being cut simultaneously.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a second cam 80 located on the cam shaft 79. Thiscam 80 operates a mechanism which is employed to rotate the supplymagazine in a stepwise manner so as to advance the insulating stripdeposited in the supply magazine in a stepwise manner to new locations.Associated with the cam 80 is a cam follower 82 mounted on a link 84,which link is pivoted at one end at 86 to the stationary support 74.Engaging the link 84 is a spring 88 which biases the follower againstcam 80 at all times. The opposite end of the link 84 pivotally engages aconpler 89 attached to a vertically extending actuator rod 90 whichterminates at its upper end with a coupler 92. As best illustrated inFIGURE 6, the coupler 92 engages a link 94 connected through a shaft 98to a vertically movable slide 96. Pivotally mounted within a slot 97 inthe slide is a pawl 100. This pawl is biased outwardly of the slide witha spring 102. The pawl is adapted to engage studs 103 which projectrearwardly from an annular flange integral with the cover member 48associated with the supply magazine.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 1, the slide 96 and pawl mechanism areordinarily enclosed by a protective shield 99 provided with a window 101through which the link 94 extends. This shield, which is mountedadjacent the frame member 40 has been removed as needed, in variousother figures to illustrate the interior detail.

The arrangement of the pawl 100 on the slide 96 is such that, withupward movement of the actuator rod 96 as permitted by the cam 80, thepawl 100 moves upwardly, first camming past a stud 103 and thenoverlying that stud. After completion of this upward travel, a continuedrotation of the cam 80 forces the slide 96 downwardly causing the pawl100 to rotate the supply magazine through a predetermined rotationalincrement. Overtravel of the supply magazine is prevented by means of astop element 104, illustrated in FIGURE 6. This stop element ispivotally mounted at 107 and is provided with a cam follower portion 106at the lower end thereof.

The port-ion 106 follows a cam 108 carried by the slide 96. As the slide96 moves upwardly, the cam 10% forces the stop element 104 to pivot in acounterclockwise direction to a position where it cannot interfere withrotation of the supply magazine. As the slide 96 moves downwardly, aspring 11% returns the stop element 104 in a clockwise direction so asto position the upper end 109 of the stop element in the path of thestud 103 which has just been engaged by the pawl 100. This causes thestud 103 to be positively located between the pawl ltlil and the stopelement 104.

In FIGURE 6, it can be seen that ten studs 103 are located at equalangular positions on the supply magazine. Accordingly, the supplymagazine is rotated substantially 36 with each cycle of operation. Also,in FIGURE 6, it can be noted that there are twenty receiving slots 47for the strip material, which slots are spaced at equal angularpositions. Accordingly, the slots are spaced at 18 intervals and each 36rotation of the supply magazine causes the two receiving slots 47, whichhave just received new strip material, to rotate out of the receivingposition while two new receiving slots rotate into the receivingposition. With successive cycles of operation, the receiving slots inthe supply magazine are rotated substantially 180 whereupon theinsulating strips carried in the slots are in position to be projectedinto a field member.

The means for projecting the insulating strips from the supply magazineinto the field member comprises a pair of spikes 112, the two spikesbeing located side by side and moving in unison to simultaneously drivetwo insulating strips out of the supply magazine. One of these spikes isillustrated in each of FIGURES 1 and 3. The mechanism by which thesespikes are actuated at the proper time in the operating cycle will bedescribed subsequently.

The foregoing description relates to a wedge supply means to which noclaim of novelty is made in the present application. This wedge supplymeans is a preferred type for use in association with the presentinvention; however, it is to be understood that other and differenttypes of wedge supply means can also be employed in the presentinvention. In the following, means for supporting a field member toreceive wedges from the supply center and means to establish a clearancein the field member for movement of the wedges will be described.

Field member support FIGURES 4 and 7 illustrate a field member of thetype which is amenable to processing in the present inven tion. Thisfield member comprises a cylindrical body provided with equispaced,internally directed, axially extending slots 142. FIGURE 7 illustratesone coil 144 deposited in slots 142a and 14212 of the field member, thecoil spanning four slots of the field member. The manner of depositingthe coils 144 in the field member forms no part of this invention. It isto be understood, of course, that numerous coils, such as the coil 144,are deposited in each field member, the coils in various slots 142overlapping one another.

Prior to deposition of the coils in the field member 140, it isconventional practice to line the lower portion of each slot 142 with aninsulating wedge, not shown. The various techniques by which thisinsulating liner may be placed in the field member form no part of thepresent invention. Rather, the present invention is concerned withtechniques for placing insulating wedges across the open portions 145 inthe slots after the field member has been provided with its fullcomplement of coils 144.

Insertion of this final insulating wedge at the opening to each coilreceiving slot has proved particularly troublesome in the past for thereason that the coils deposited in the slots interfere with movement ofthe insulating wedges over the coils. Such difficulties have beeneliminated in the present invention by providing a means to depress thecoils in the slots and so align the coils that the wedge moves freelyover the coils into the slot.

For supporting the field member in proper position adjacent the wedgesupply means, a generally cylindrical support member 122 is securedagainst the forward wall of the cover member 48 inside a peripheralflange 120 with suitable bolts 124, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. As bestobserved in FIGURE 6, the bolts 124 pass through slots 126 formed in theannular flange 105 integral with the cover member 48. The slots 126permit limited rotational movement of the support member 122 relative tothe wedge supply means.

Disposed concentrically in the support member 122 is a cylindricalrecess 128 adapted to receive the field memher. A plurality of pins 130secured in a shoulder 129 in the recess 128 are adapted to engagecomplementary apertures in the field member so as to key the fieldmember nonrotatably in the recess 128.

FIGURE 5 illustrates, in phantom detail, a field memher 140 seated inthe field member support 122. There, it will be noted that the fieldmember 140 is journalled on the enlarged section 44 of the core member42 associated with the wedge supply means. There, it will also be notedthat the coils 144 carried by the field member project from one side ofthe field member into the recess 128 of the support member 122, coils144 having been illustrated in phantom detail.

The mechanism for depressing the coils into their respective slots 142is best observed in FIGURES 3 and 4. This mechanism includes a camfollower member 152 mounted for sliding movement in a slot 151 formed inthe central core 42 of the wedge supply means. Supported on the member152 is a cam follower wheel 154 which is biased upwardly by a springmember 156 mounted fixedly in the central core. The upward bias of thespring member 156 causes the cam follower wheel 154 to engage a ram-typecam 160.

This cam 160 is oscillated along a horizontal axis by means of a bellcrank 111 pivoted on the fixed support 74. This bell crank has twoangularly disposed arms 113 and 114. The arm 113 projects upwardly fromthe fixed support to engage the cam 160. The arm 114 supports a camfollower wheel 115 which follows the periphery of a cam 116 mounted onthe cam shaft 72. Suitable spring means, not shown, bias the camfollower 115 against the periphery of the cam 116.

With rotation of the cam shaft 79, the cam 161 is reciprocated along asubstantially horizontal axis. When the came moves to the left as viewedin FIGURE 3, the cam follower 154 rides up an inclined cam surface 162causing the cam follower member 152 to move upwardly. Conversely, whenthe cam 160 is moved to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3, the camfollower wheel 154 moves down the inclined surface 162 to engage ahorizontal surface 164 under the cam. Thus, the cam follower member 152has an upward and downward movement which is regulated by the cam 160.

Fitted on the lower end of the cam follower member 152 is a generallyU-shaped member 158, the sides of member 158 being substantially flushwith the sides of member 152, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Extendingdownwardly from member 158 are three spaced finger portions 166 formingtwo recesses between the finger ,portions, the spacing between thefinger portions corresponding generally to the width of the slots 142 inthe field member 140. As best illustrated in FIGURE 5, these fingerportions 166 are located adjacent one side of the field member 140(shown in phantom detail) such that downward movement of the camfollower member 152 will cause each recess to engage an underlying coil144 in the field member 140 with the result that downward movement ofthe cam follower member 152 in response to movement of the cam 160 willdepress the coils 144 downwardly in the corresponding slots 142 of thefield member. In so doing, the cam follower member 152 providesclearance for movement of insulating strips into the cleared slots ofthe field member.

As can be best seen in FIGURE 4, the cam follower member 152 has spacedchannels 168 formed in the lower surface thereof, these channelsproviding passages for the movement of insulating strips from the supplymagazine into the slots of the field member. Two channels 168 areprovided so that two insulating strips may be moved simultaneously fromthe supply magazine into slots of the field member. The construction andarrangement of the channels 168 is such that these channels will bealigned with the supply magazine to receive strips from the supplymagazine when the cam follower member 152 has been depressed downwardlyto a position where the cam follower wheel 154 engages the horizontalsurface 164 on the earn 160. Thus, the channels 168 are aligned forreceipt of insulating strips only when the finger portions 166 have beendepressed sufficiently to provide a clearance for movement of theinsulating strips into the slots 142 of the field member 1411.

As is evident in FIGURE 7, the coils 144 are in the form of loops whichpass through spaced slots 142 in the field member. Since these coils arein the form of loops, the coils do not follow a straight line course asthey move out of the slots 142. Rather, the coils in leaving one slotturn in the direction of another slot, following a curved course. Due tothis curvature in the coils as they move into and out of the slots 142,there is a risk that the fingers 166 will not straddle the coils andproperly align them as they are depressed into engagement with thecoils. The following mechanism is employed to align the coils with theentering wedge.

Encircling the peripheral flange 1211, which is integral with the covermember 48 of the supply magazine, is a ring gear 176. A similar ringgear 172 encircles the field member support 122. These ring gears areengaged by pinions 174 and 176, respectively, as illustrated in FIG- URE2. A drive gear 178 meshes with both of the pinions 174 and 176.

The drive gear 178 is supported by a generally horizontal arm 18%provided with an extension 182 at the right end thereof as viewed inFIGURE 2. The extension 182 terminates in a pin 184 seated within theeye of an eye bolt 185. The upper end of the eye bolt 185 engages a bellcrank member 1% supporting a cam follower roller 192. This cam followerroller engages the under surface of a ram-like cam member 194,illustrated fragmentarily in phantom detail in FIGURE 1, and more fullyillustrated in FIGURES 2 and 8. The under surface of the cam 194 isprovided with a protuberance 198 which is lower in elevation than theremaining under surface of the cam 124. This protuberance appears inphantom detail in FIGURE 1. A compression spring 2% engaging a fixedsupport 202 urges the extension 182 upwardly so as to bias the camfollower roller 192 against the under surface of the cam 194.

For reasons which will become apparent subsequently, it is importantthat the extension 182 have an accurately located center position. Forlocating the center position, a cam 284 located to one side of theram-like cam 194 engages a roller 206 fixedly supported on a pedestal268. The cam 204 cooperating with the roller 206 fixes the elevation ofthe ram-like cam 194, the compression spring 260 functioning through themedium of the eye bolt 185 to bias the cam 204 against the roller 206.The cam 2194 extends horizontally throughout the operative length of theram-like cam 194 and accordingly fixes the elevation of the cam 124 atall operative positions.

At its extreme left end, as viewed in FIGURE 2, the arm which supportsthe drive gear 178 is secured to a flexible hinge 211) mounted on alatch member 212. This latch member 212 is adapted to slide verticallyon a fixedly mounted frame member 214 provided with a detent 215 adaptedto interengage a complementary recess in the latch member 212. Abi-directional pneumatic actuator 216 is fixedly supported adjacent thelatch member 212 such that a piston 226 in the actuator 216 may beforced against the latch member 212 so as to cause this member to firmlyengage the detent 215 thereby locking the latch member 212 and the arm186 against vertical movement. Deenergization of the actuator 216 freesthe latch member 212 for vertical movement.

A second flexible hinge 21$ engages the arm 180 adjacent the extension182. This hinge 218 is mounted upon a latch member 226 similar to thelatch member 212 which slides vertically on a fixedly mounted framemember 222, similar to the frame member 214. This frame member 222 isprovided with a detent 224 adapted to seat in a complementary recess inthe latch member 220. The actuator 216, being bi-directional, canselectively engage either the latch member 212 or the latch mem her 220with its piston 226.

When the piston 226 engages the latch member 220, as shown, the latchmember 212 is disengaged and accordingly the arm 180 is free to pivotabout the flexible hinge 218. When the piston 226 is actuated in theopposite direction so as to engage the latch member 212, the arm 130becomes free to pivot about the flexible hinge 2111.

Assuming that the piston 226 engages the latch member 220, as shown,movement of the ram-like cam 1% to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1 willcause the cam follower roller 192 to engage the protuberance 198 of thecam 194. This will cause the cam follower roller 192 to move downwardly,whereby the extension 182 of the arm 180 is depressed downwardly inopposition to the spring 200. The downward movement of the extension 182causes the drive gear 17 S to move downwardly. As will become clearsubsequently, the ring gear 171) is held stationary by the pawl 101) atthis time and accordingly the pinion 174 cannot rotate. The pinion 176must therefore rotate in a clockwise direction as the drive gear movesdownwardly. As a result, the ring gear 172 moves in a counterclockwisedirection. Accordingly, the field member support 122 and the fieldmember mounted therein are caused to rotate in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURE 2, this'rotation being a small incrementas determined by the difference in elevation between the under surfaceof the cam 194 and the protuberance 198. The slots 126 associated withthe bolts 124 permit this rotary shaft.

If, on the other hand, the actuator 216 had been energized so that thepiston 226 engaged the latch member 212, downward movement of theextension 182 would have caused the drive gear 178 to move upwardlythereby causing the pinion 176 to rotate in a counterclockwise directionand the ring gear 172 to rotate in a clockwise direction. In this case,the result would be that the field member support 122 and the fieldmember mounted therein would be rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIGURE 2 through a small increment of rotation determined bythe difference in elevation between the cam 194 and the protuberance198.

Considering that the under surface of the cam 194 establishes a centerposition for the drive gear 178 and a corresponding center position forthe field member support 122, it is apparent that movement of the cam194 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1 will produce either a clockwise ora counterclockwise rotation of the field member support away from thecenter position depending on the direction in which the actuator 216 hasbeen energized. This selective clockwise or counterclockwise rotation ofthe field member support 122 results in a clockwise or counterclockwiserotation of the field member relative to the finger portions 166 whichare used to engage and depress the coils in the field member.

Referring to FIGURE 7, it will be noted that the coil 144, emerging fromslot 142a, curves in the direction of the slot 142a. Assuming thatfingers 166 are to engage the coil 144 as it emerges from the slot 142a,a clockwise shift of the field member 140 will be required to align thefingers 166 so that they properly straddle the coil 144. Similarly, whenfingers 166 are to engage the coil 144 as it emerges from the slot 142b,a counterclockwise shift of the field member 141) will be required toalign the fingers 166 properly with the coil 144. Once the appropriateshift in the position of the field member has been made, the fingers 166can be depressed downwardly by the cam 160 to engage the coil.

After the described rotational shift which. occurs between the fieldmember and the wedge supply means, the slots 142 in the field member areno longer properly aligned to receive insulating strips from the wedgesupply means. It is therefore necessary to return the field membersupport 122 to its center position before projecting insulating stripsfrom the supply magazine toward the field member. This is accomplishedby returning the cam 194 to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 1, after thefingers 166 have been depressed downwardly and before insulating stripsare driven out of the supply magazine. By effecting this return to acenter position at a time when the fingers 166 are depressed downwardlyat least partially, the curved portions of the coils emerging from theslots 142 are carried by the finger portions into an exact alignmentwith the slots. This provides a clear straight line passage for movementof the insulating strips into the slots 142.

As illustrated in FIGURE 8, the ram-like cam 194 is reciprocated along ahorizontal axis by means of a connecting rod 230 eccentrically connectedto the cam shaft 79 by an arm 232, the shaft 79 being driven through abelt and gear transmission by a prime mover 234. When the cam 194 isdriven to its extreme left portion, as viewed in FIGURE 1, the camfollower wheel 192 engages the protuberance 198 of the cam 194 such thatthe field member is shifted away from its center position. After the cam194 is moved only a short distance to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 1,however, the cam follower wheel 192 returns to the under surface of thecam 124 thereby restoring the field member to its center position. Thefield member remains in its center position until the cam 194 hascompleted its travel to an extreme right position, as viewed in FIGURE1, and returned almost to its extreme left position. As shown in FIGURE8, the spikes 112, which project the insulating strips from the supplymagazine into the field member are attached to the ram-like cam 194 by abracket 117. Thus, as this cam approaches its extreme right position, asviewed in FIGURE 1, the spikes 112 are carried to the right to propelinsulating strips from the supply magazine into the field member. As thecam 194 is returned to its extreme left position, the spikes arewithdrawn fully from the supply magazine so as not to interfere withindexing of the supply magazine.

The operating cycle The sequence of operation of the wedge insertingapparatus is best comprehended through an analysis of the cams 78, 80and 116 mounted on the cam shaft 79. Referring to the cams, asillustrated in FIGURE 1, the reference point a on the cam 80 illustratesthat portion of the cam which drives the link 84 downwardly so as toindex the wedge supply magazine through 36 to a new position and alsothe next slots of the field member are likewise thus indexed into lineto receive the wedge strips, the cam shaft 79 rotating in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURE 1. Reference point b on cam 116 indicatesthat portion of the cam which is effective topivot the bell crank 111downwardly so as to advance the ram-like cam to the right as viewed inFIGURE 1 and thereby depress the coil engaging fingers 166 intoengagement with the coils.

As previously noted, the ram-like cam 194 is driven from an eccentricconnection on the cam shaft 79. Between the time portion a on cam 80engages the cam follower wheel 82 and the portion b on earn 116 engagesthe cam follower wheel 115 the ram-like cam 194 moves to an extreme leftposition as viewed in FIGURE 1 where the cam follower 192 engages theprotuberance 198 of the cam 194. At this time, then, the field member isshifted from its center position. To review the preceding sequence ofoperations, the wedge supply means is first indexed; then, the fieldmember is shifted to its ofi center position, and thereafter, the coilengaging fingers 66 are depressed downwardly a small distance to engagecoils of the field member.

Immediately after the portion b of cam 78 engages its cam follower, theram-like cam 194 moving to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1 movessufficiently that the cam follower wheel 192 moves off the protuberance198 returning the field member to its center position. As soon as thefield member is in its center position, the portion on cam followerwheel 116 engages the cam follower wheel 115 to further depress thefingers 166 thereby applying maximum pressure to the coils in the fieldmember and establishing maximum clearance for the insertion of wedgesover the coils.

Shortly after maximum pressure has been applied to the coils, theportion d of cam 80 relieves pressure on cam follower wheel 82 enablingthe spring 88 to return the pawl 100 to an upward position preparatoryto a new indexing operation.

As this event occurs, the ram-like cam 194 is progressing to an extremeright position as viewed in FIGURE 1 and the spikes 112, which move withthis cam, are in the process of transferring insulating strip from thesupply magazine into the aligned and cleared slots in the field member.During this same time interval, means, not shown, responsive to movementof the cam 194, actuate the insulating strip drive rollers 34 and 36 tomove new insulating strips into the top of the wedge supply magazine.

After the new insulating strips have been moved into the wedge supplymagazine, the portion :2 of cam 78 engages cam follower 76 to actuatethe knife 60 downwardly to cut the newly inserted insulating stripmaterial to size.

Shortly thereafter, the portion f of cam 116 releases pressure on thecam follower roller 115 so as to withdraw the ram-like cam 160, therebyreleasing downward pressure on the coil engaging fingers 166. This freesthe field member for indexing to a new position at the start of the nextcycle of operation.

In the foregoing discussion of the operating cycle, no mention was madeof the pneumatic actuator 216 which determines the direction of shift ofthe field member away from its center position. It is to be understoodthat the timing of this actuator depends upon the arrangement ofwindings in the field member, the direction of actuation of the actuator216 depending upon the direction the coils turn as they emerge from theslots in the field member.

Mechanism for controlling the timing of the pneumatic actuator isillustrated schematically in FIGURES 9 and 10. The ram-like cam 194carries at its forward end a rearwardly projecting rod 236. This rod 236supports a dog 238 which is pivotally mounted at 240. Pivotal movementof the dog 238 is restricted by a pin 242 which is mounted on the rod236 and positioned in an enlarged aperture 244 formed in the dog 238. Aspring 246 anchored to the rod 236 biases the dog 238 downwardly. As theram-like cam 194 reciprocates, the dog 238 repeatedly passes a gear 248.During rearward movement of the cam 194, the dog passes over the geardue to the yielding action of the spring 246. On forward movement of thecam 194, however, the dog 238 engages the gear 248 and rotates this gearthough a rotary angle corresponding to one tooth in the gear. By meansof an idler roller 250, the rotary movement of this gear is transmittedto a gear 252, mounted on a shaft 254 carrying a cam 256.

The cam 256 operates an electric switch 258 which is connected to anelectromagnetic valve 260 by means of conductors 262. The valve 260selectively controls delivery of pneumatic pressure to the pneumaticactuator 216 through one of two conduits 264 and 266. Thus, the cam 256selects the direction of actuation of the pneumatic actuator 216.

With the pneumatic control mechanism illustrated, it is apparent that byvarying the shape of the cam 256 any desired cycle of operation for thepneumatic actuator 216 may be obtained.

Modification FIGURES 11 and 12 illustrate a modified apparatus forshifting the position of the field member to bring the coils woundtherein into alignment with the fingers 166 which engage the coils.FIGURE 11 is an end elevation view illustrating the field member support122 and surrounding ring gear 172 previously described mounted in asuitable casting 302. Not visible in this figure is the second ring gear170 associated with the wedge supply means. This ring gear is locatedbehind the gear 172 in FIGURE 11 and is concealed thereby; however, itcan be seen in fragmentary detail in FIGURE 12. Shifting of the fieldmember supported in the field member support 122 is accomplished byinducing a rotation of the ring gear 172 relative to the ring gear 170.

Engaging the ring gears 170 and 172 are pinions 174 and 176,respectively. These two pinions are supported in fixed relative positionby shafts 304 and 306 journalled in a support bracket 308. This supportbracket 308 is fixedly secured to the casting 302 with bolts 309. InFIG- URE 12, these securing bolts have been omitted to avoid confusionof the details illustrated therein.

Relative rotation of the pinions 174 and 176 is produced by moving ameshing drive gear 178 transversely therebetween. For this purpose, thedrive gear 178 is attached ito a lever 310 pivoted on the shaft 306 forthe pinion 174. The lever 310 is attached to a cam follower arm 314 bymeans of a linkage 312. This cam follower arm which is pivoted at 316 toa rearwardly extending portion of the casting 302 carries a cam followerroller 318 which engages -a rotary cam member 320. The cam mem her 320is mounted on the cam shaft 79 and rotates in unison therewith. This camshaft is associated with the drive mechanism for the wedge supply means,previously described, and rotates once for each cycle of operation ofthe wedge supply means.

Recessed into the face of the cam member 320 is an annular channel 326bounded by inner and outer wall portions 322 and 324, respectively. Thechannel 326 is generally concentric to the cam shaft 79 and throughslightly more than one half of its length has a constant radialthickness only slightly greater than that of the cam follower roller318. During that fraction of the operating cycle when the cam followerroller 318 is in this portion of the channel 326, the cam follower arm314 is held in a fixed central position.

During the remaining portion of the operating cycle, the channel 326 hasan enlarged radial dimension such that the cam follower arm 314 canexecute a pivotal movement about the central position. Control over thepivotal movement of the cam follower arm 314 in this portion of theoperating cycle is effected by means of a pneumatic cylinder 330pivotally attached to the cam follower arm 314 by means of an operatingarm 332. The operation of this pneumatic cylinder is bi-directional suchthat the cam follower arm 314 may be biased downwardly as viewed inFIGURE 12 to cause the roller 318 to follow the curvature of the outerwall 324 or may be biased upwardly to follow the curvature of the innerwall 322 associated with the channel 326.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the channel 326in the cam member 320 locates the cam follower arm 314 in a fixed centerposition throughout the major portion of the operating cycle of thewedge supply means, but, during the balance of the operating cycle,permits optionally an upward or downward movement of the arm 314. Anupward movement of the arm 314 away from the center position produces adownward movement of the drive gear 178 as viewed in FIGURE 11 withconsequent clockwise rotation of the pinion 176 and counterclockwiserotation of the ring gear 172. Thus the field member support 122 isshifted in the counterclockwise direction' Conversely, a downwardmovement of the cam follower arm 314 results in a clockwise shift of thefield member support 122.

The cam member 320 and associated cam follower mechanism performssubstantially the same function as the protuberance 198 formed on theram-like cam 194, together with its associated cam follower mechanism asdescribed in connection with the preferred embodiment. The pneumaticcylinder 330 performs substantially the same function performed by thepneumatic actuator 216 in the preferred embodiment in selecting thedirection of rotary shift of the field member. Thus, the features of thepresent modification may be integrated into the preferred embodiment bysubstituting the cam member 320 and related cam follower mechanism forthe cam protuberance 198 and related follower mechanism of the preferredembodiment and by substituting the pneumatic cylinder 339 and relatedcomponents for the pneumatic actuator 216 and related components in thepreferred embodiment.

While the foregoing description pertains to a wedge inserting devicewherein two wedges are simultaneously inserted into adjacent slots of afield member, it is deemed to be within the purview of the presentinvention to insert only one insulating wedge into one slot of the fieldmemher in each cycle of operation. Conversely, it is deemed within thepurview of the present invention to simultaneously insert more than twowedges into a field member in each cycle of operation if the arrangementof coils in the field member so permits.

Further, while the foregoing description discloses only coil engagingfinger portions on one side of the field member, it is deemed within thepurview of the present invention to provide coil engaging fingers onboth sides of the field member, which fingers operate simultaneously todepress and align the coils in the slots of the field member.

Although the preferred embodiments of the device have been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generallystated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects setforth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

The method of inserting wedges into the slots of a field member intowhich coils have been deposited, said coils having opposite sides seatedin spaced slots of said field member, the portion of the coil emergingfrom each slot being c-urved in the direction of the spaced slot whichreceives the opposite side of the same coil, said method including thesteps of engaging and holding stationary the curved portion of a coilemerging from a slot, moving said field member relative to theengagedcoil to partially straighten the curved portion thereof, depressing saidpartially straightened coil portion inwardly of said slot, and sliding awedge into the slot through the opening created by depression of thecoil into the slot.

No references cited.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

